Australian Resources

When providing care, context matters. It affects many aspects of care including what is appropriate and what is possible. In this section you will find links to organisations and resources relevant to the Australian setting. Some documents are also listed below, and you can find more on the palliAGED Policy Timeline.

Government websites and funded agencies

Department of Health and Aged Care website has relevant resources and tools that are focused on both Palliative care and Aged Care. Some of the key content is listed below:
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) which coordinates national improvements in safety and quality in health care across Australia
Australian Charter of Aged Care Rights
Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission provides information on promoting quality, innovation and improvement of service in aged care. This organisation also offers short courses and workshops for further professional development
Department of Veterans' Affairs Australia (DVA)
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Includes information on the hearing and research studies as well as the final report
Training.gov.au is the official national register of information on registered training organisations (RTOs), qualifications, courses, units of competency and training packages in Australia.

Aged Care Projects

Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA)
The Centre for Growth and Translational Research will conduct research with aged care workers, providers, researchers and people who use aged care services. Findings will be used to create innovative solutions for the aged care sector to ensure best possible care to senior Australians.
Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care measure
This measure aims to help older Australians living in residential aged care, nearing the end of their life.
Aged Care Transition to Practice Program
The Aged Care Transition to Practice (ACTTP) program provides new aged care nurses with mentoring, training, and support.
Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
The Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission is investing $185 million. It supports older Australians to maintain their health and quality of life as they age, live independently for longer, and access quality care when they need it.

National Palliative Care Projects

There are a number of national palliative care projects relevant to aged care and funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care measure
This measure aims to help older Australians living in residential aged care, nearing the end of their life.
Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure
This measure aims to improve palliative care coordination through Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
End of Life Direction for Aged Care (ELDAC)
ELDAC provides information, guidance, and resources to health professionals and aged care workers on palliative care and advance care planning to improve the care of older Australians.
Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program (PACOP)
PACOP facilitates optimal palliative and end-of-life care for residents living in aged care homes (ACHs). It supports ACHs to embed a framework for routine use of standardised assessments to identify residents’ palliative care needs and concerns, to inform appropriate and timely care and contribute to comprehensive care planning for residents.

The following projects are funded under the National Palliative Care Program:

Advance Care Planning Australia is a national program with the purpose of building the foundation for a national collaborative approach to advance care planning
Advance Project provides resources on advance care planning and palliative care for people living with dementia, through training and resources for the primary care workforce
CareSearch provides nationally available websites to connect health professionals and the general public with trustworthy, evidence-based information and resources in palliative care
Caring@home provides resources that will support people to be cared for, and to die, at home if that is their choice. Resources are available for community service providers, health care professionals and carers
palliAGED is the palliative care evidence and practice information resource for the Australian aged care sector. It provides support for health and care practitioners as well as resource developers. The website also provides trustworthy information for older Australians, their families and friends
Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)
The PEPA program is part of the Palliative Care Education and Training Collaborative and helps health professionals to deliver palliative care by providing training in clinical placements in specialist palliative care services and interactive workshops.

Australian professional and research organisations

Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) seeks to improve the experience of ageing through connecting research, policy and practice.
National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) is a representative body of peak national organisations in aged care, including consumer groups, providers, unions and health professionals.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) provides information on approved programs of study for nursing which have been accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have published the RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book).

Selected Australian support organisations

Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA)
Australian Pain Society (APS) including Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Management Strategies
Brain Injury Australia has resources and information on accessing support for those people living with an acquired brain injury and their carers
Cancer Council of Australia
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) which is a network for people who grew up in Australia's orphanages, children's homes and in foster care
Carers Australia
Child Migrants Trust
Dementia Australia has resources to support families of people with dementia
Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)
Meaningful Ageing supports the pastoral and spiritual needs of older people, their significant others, and their carers
MND Australia provides information for Australian health and community care professionals involved in motor neurone disease (MND) care and support
MS Society of Australia
Palliative Care Australia (PCA)
Spiritual Care Australia.

Australian academic journals

Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP) is a peer reviewed journal with information relevant to Australian GPs
Australian Journal of Rural Health is available online and provides publications on the current research around regional and rural health issues
Australasian Journal on Ageing is a peer reviewed journal, which publishes original work in any area of gerontology and geriatric medicine
Australian Health Review explores health policy and management including healthcare delivery systems, clinical programs, and health financing
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing aims to provide a vehicle for nurses to publish original research and scholarly papers about all areas of nursing
The Rural and Remote Health Journal carries many articles on Indigenous health care.

Page updated 28 July 2022